Pipe line scraper inserter and remover



Nov. `13', 1951 R. R. THOMAS PIPE LINE SCRAPER INSERTER AND REMOVER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 2, 1947 .1 s w u NN QN w W J b M m 7., i d a. 4 0 my l a @f m. v NN w\\m% mN. hm, NWM U 4 k n n., m .lll Il l||7|l NY N "Hf/ lm j lll j ,f/ uw %M\\ N W5 MN. \,Y\ .ww E CE2: ww, n lll" h QN @if R. R. THOMAS PIPE LINE SCRAPER INSERTER AND REMOVER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Nov. 13, 1951 Filed May 2, 1947 In Vel/mr Patented Nov. 13, ,1951

PIPE LINE SCRAPER INSERTER AND REMOVER Raymond R. Thomas, Childress, Tex.

Application May 2, 1947, Serial N o. 745,448

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a structure for use in inserting a pipeline scraper into a pipeline and for thereafter removing the scraper from the pipeline at another point therein and has particular reference to a unit of extremely simple construction and which by simple adjustment may be utilized either as a feed mechanism for inserting the scraper into the pipeline or as an extracting mechanism for removing the scraper therefrom.

v Another object of the invention is to provide a scraper inserter and remover which is constructed and arranged to be vadjusted for fitting pipelines of various diameters vand which is provided with supporting and guiding means for guiding and supporting the scraper as it is applied to a pipeline or during its removal therefrom.

Various other objects andV advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section showing the invention applied to an end of a pipeline trap and being employed for removing a scraper therefrom;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View thereof;

Figure 3 is an end view looking from left to right of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away showing the invention as employed for applying a scraper to a pipeline trap;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the apparatus shown applied as in Figures 1 to 3, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational View illustrating a portion of a pipeline and showing the scraper about to be removed from an outlet trap thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 'I designates generally the outlet end of a trap forming a part of a pipeline and which is provided at its end with an outwardly projecting annular flange 8 having circumferentially spaced apertures 9, as best seen in Figure 5. A scraper, designated generally I0, comprising a substantially cylindrical body I I of an external diameter considerably less than the internal diameter of the pipe l, is shown disposed therein. The scraper I0 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced scraper discs or rings I2 each of which extends around the body I I. The rings I2 are each frusto-conical in shape and converge toward the forward or left hand end of the scraper I0, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The scraper inserter and remover, comprising the invention, is designated generally III and includes two elongated pieces of angle iron I5 each provided with an inturned flange I6 at one end thereof. The anges I6 are apertured to receive the shanks of nut and bolt fastenings I'I which also extend through diametrically opposed apertures 9 for securing the angle irons I5 to the flange 8 and so that said angle irons will project from the iianged end of the trap l in substantially parallel relationship to one another.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the angle irons I5 are provided with adjacently disposed substantially parallel sides I8 which are provided with longitudinally spaced transversely aligned apertures I9 for selectively receiving fastenings 25 for securing an arm 2|. to the inner side of each flange I8. The arms 2I are provided with laterally turned outer ends 22 which engage the inner sides of the anges I 8 through which the fastenings 20 extend for positioning said arms 2l in transverse alignment and in inwardly extending relationship relatively to one another.

The arms 2| are detachably engaged by a channel member 23 which is detachably and adjustably fastened thereto by fastenin'gs 24 which extend through selective openings 25 in the arms 2 I.

As best seen in Figure 5, the channel member 23 is provided with a yoke or frame 26 which projects perpendicularly from the intermediate side thereof and intermediate of the ends of said channel member and which is substantially U- shaped, as seen in Figure 1. The bightA portion of the frame 2B is provided with -a rectangular opening 2'I for receiving an elongated rack bar 28 which extends slidably therethrough and through said frame 26 and channel bar 23. The

A arms 2| and channel bar 23, including the frame 26, combine to form an adjustable cross head of the apparatus I 4 which is capable of being extended by means cf the longitudinally spaced openings 25 in the arms 2| for application to the angle irons I5, spaced various distances apart depending upon the diameter of the pipe 'I to which they are applied, and which cross head, designated generally 29, may be positioned at various distances from the flanged end of the pipe I by application of the fastenings 20 to the various aligned apertures I9.

As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the sides of the frame or yoke 26 are provided with ears 30 which rise from the upper edge thereof and which are laterally spaced to loosely receive an end of a lever 3I therebetween. A pivot pin 32 extends through the lever SI adjacent said end and is secured at its ends in the-.ears 30 for pivotally mounting the lever on the frame 26. The lever 3| is provided with a pawl 33 which is pivotally mounted thereon at 34 below the lever pivot 32, and a second, longer pawl 35 is pivotally mounted at 36 on the lever 3l above or on the opposite side of the pivot 32. The pawls 33 and 35 project in the same direction from the lever 3| and combine therewith to provide a double actingV jack through engagement with the upwardly facing teeth for advancing rack bar 2B through the cross head 29 in a step by step movement when the lever 3l is oscillated.

A scraper support and guide,v constituting a part of the apparatus I4 includes a substantially semi-circular flange 38 which projects outwardly from the ange 8 and which is detachably secured thereto by integral outturnedears 39 which project from the ends of the iiange 38 and which are disposed between the flange v8 and the flanges I6 and secured to the flange 3 by the fastenings I'I. A wire frame lllof substantially semi-circular cross section including a bottom longitudinal strand 4I, longitudinal side strands 42 and an arcuate outer end strand 43 is secured to and projects outwardly from said flange 38. The innerends of the strands 4I and 42 are outwardly offset and secured to the outer side of the iange 3S, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2 for aligning the inner side of the wire frame 4Q with the inner side of the flange 38.1and with the bottom half of the bore of the pipe l.

Assuming that it is desired to insert the scraper i9 into an inlet trap 44, as" seen in Figure 4 and which isof the same construction as the. outlet trap l, includingthe ange 8,- the apparatus I 4 is applied as previously described except that the cross head 23 is turned around so that thel yoke or frame 26 thereof extends inwardly, as seen in Figure 4, instead of outwardly, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. When thus disposed, a disc 45 can vbe applied to the tapered end 43 of the ratchet 28 and said disc 45 engages against the rear end of the scraper IIl which is supported on the guide cage 40. By oscillating the lever 3l, the ratchet bar 28 will be fed toward the inlet trap 44 for advancing the scraper ID into said trap and until it is beyond the first connection or joint, not shown, of an oil line of which the trap 44 forms Aa part and which has been shut on .prior to applying the scraper I0.

The flanged end 8 of the trap 44 is then sealed and the line of which said trap forms a part is then opened to permit oil to flow into the line through the joint ory connection beyond which the scraper has been advanced by the apparatus I4. The pressure of the oil behind the scraper I4 will force said scraper through the pipe line, a portion of which is shown in Figure 6 and designated generally-41. When the scraper IB reaches a portion of the pipeline 4l as seen in Figure 6, and which maybe located at a pumping station a considerable distance from another pumping station or a point where the inlet trap 44 was located, the oil pressure in the pipe line behind the scraper lll will cause it to pass the connection of an oiset extension 49 of said pipeline 4l and which is normally open. This will position the scraper adjacent the valve 50, which is normally closed. When the scraper is so disposed, thevalve 50 is opened and a valve 43 in the line 49 is closed to prevent passage of the oil therethrough. A lateral pipe located to form a communication between the trap 'l and the pipe 49, beyond its valve 48,- is provided with a valve 5I which is normally closed but which is opened when the valve 50 is opened so that the oil may force the scraper I0 into the trap 'I as seen in dotted lines in Figure 6 so as to uncover the pipe 52 to permit the oil to iiow thereto into the pipe 49. When the scraper I0 is disposed in the trap 'l' the valve 48 is opened and the valves 50 and 5I closed, after which a closure, not shown, attached to the flange 8 of the trap I may be removed and the apparatus I4 is then applied to said flange 8, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5 and with the frame 26 extending away from the trap l.

As best seen in Figure 5, the opposite end of the rack bar 28, which is thus disposed adjacent thetrap 1, is provided with a hook 54 and the leading endV of the scraper ID has cross bails 53 projecting therefrom and detachably engaged by the hook 54 so that when the jack lever 3| is operated, in the same manner as previously described, theV rack bar 28 willbe fed outwardly fordrawing the. scraperv I0 from the trap -'I. and onto the guide and supporting rack 40, from which it can bemanually removed. The apparatus I4 is then detached from the flange 8 of trap 1 after which a conventional closure may be applied to said ange.

Obviously, the inserting and removing apparatus I4 may be utilizedwith the scraper I!! for removing paraiiin from oil lines of various constructions and the rack bar 28 as well as the angle irons I5 may be made; of various lengths for accommodatingA trapsof various lengths. Ordinarily, the inlet traps-are of a greater length than the outlet traps of pipelines and accordingly the apparatus I4 will be made capable of suiiicient movement for advancing the scraper I0 through an inlet trap 44 of any conventional length for scraping the parafn therefrom and for advancing the scraper to beyond the rst connection adjacent the trap, so that it will be carried thereon through the pipeline by the pressure of the oil behind the scraper. As previously stated, the apparatus I4 is capable of adjustment in width to accommodate pipelines of various diameters. A-

Various other` modifications and-changes are likewise contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appendedV claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a pipeline scraper inserter and remover, an elongated open frame adapted to be detachably connectedto the flanged end of a pipeline trap and projecting outwardly therefrom and disposed substantially axially thereof, said frame including spaced substantially parallel side members, a cross head forming a part of'saidframev and disposed transversely thereof, saidcross head being reversibly disposed inthe frame, a rack. bar reciprocably disposed-in the cross head for movement longitudinally ofthe frame andhaving means for engaging the end of a scraper for inserting the scraper into and removing it from the pipeline trap, and a lever and pawl means swingably supported by the cross head for moving the rack bar therethrough, the lever of said lever and pawl means being pivotally supported to swing in a plane generally parallel to the directions in which said side members extend.l

2. A scraper inserter and remover as in claim l, said cross head forming a detachable part. of

the frame and being removable connected at its.

ends` thereto tor reversiblypositioning thei cross head with respect to the frame whereby the rack Number bar may be advanced by said lever and pawl 604,808 means in either direction relatively to the frame. 620,366 RAYMOND R. THOMAS. 694,324 5 952,130 REFERENCES CITED 1,006,261 The following references are of record in the 112301786 'lle of this patent: 1,547,975

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 2,238,906 152,608 Cornell June 30, 1874 2,461,933

6 Name Date Uptegrove May 31, 1898 Salenus Feb. 28, 1899 Pearsall Feb. 25, 1902 Mueller Mar. 15, 1910 Mueller Oct. 17, 1911 Robertson June 19, 1917 Thngstad July 28, 1925 Thompson Oct. 15, 1929 Howe et al. Jan. 28, 1936 Kaplan July 7, 1942 Jarrett Feb. 15,1949 

